Page 15

I stretch my legs out in front of me, stifling another yawn. I’m ready to call it a night. The allure of the party has long since worn off, and after a week of solid practices, I’m knackered.

Sam and Austin are off doing who knows what, and Mack disappeared with some girl not long ago, so I probably won’t see him for the rest of the night.

“I think I’m going to head out, man,” I tell Brock, pushing off the wall we’ve been leaning on for the last thirty minutes.

Brock is on the swim team with us and is one of the few sober people left at the party, from the looks of it. Since I drove tonight, I haven’t had a drop of alcohol either.

“All right, dude. See you Monday at practice.”

We do the one-arm hug and slap on the back thing, and then I quickly text the group chat on my way through the house to let the guys know I’m leaving.

As I bypass the makeshift dance floor, something stops me. Bear sways her hips to the music, and the sight goes straight to my dick. I haven’t seen her since our conversation earlier—easily the highlight of my night.

Upstairs, it felt like something had shifted between us. A crack in her walls. A long-overdue apology from me. And that damn smile she gave me. I could have spent the rest of the evening with her and been perfectly content.

From across the room, I watch as a petite brunette leans in and whispers something to her, making Bear giggle behind her hand. It’s cute as hell. But I don’t miss how she sways a little too much on her feet.

When a guy weaves his way behind her with a knowing smirk, my jaw tightens, and I’m on the move.

There’s no way I’m letting him take advantage of her when she’s been drinking. I've barely taken four steps when a familiar face blocks my path, forcing me to stop.

Seriously, can I not catch a goddamn break?

“Hey, Levi.” Sadie’s voice is sugary sweet, and I bite my tongue to not say something rude like fuck off.

She reaches out to touch me, but I sidestep her. “I’m on my way out,” I say, not bothering with pleasantries.

I can practically feel her eyes burning a hole in my back, but right now, my only priority is Bear.

The guy hovering behind her must sense my approach because he turns just as I reach them.

“You should leave.” The sharpness in my voice leaves no room for argument.

His hands shoot up in surrender as he backs away. “Shit, sorry, my bad. I didn’t know she was your girl.”

I don’t bother to correct him. He’s not wrong. When he finds someone else to bother, I step up behind Bear, my hands settling lightly on her hips.

Leaning down, I whisper in her ear. “Hey, Teddy Bear.”

Bear spins in my arms, and when she sees it’s me, her lips curve into a smile.

“Levi! You found me!”

The look of pure happiness on her face catches me off guard, and suddenly, I'm the unsteady one. She’s always beautiful, but even more so with her flushed cheeks and open expression. Her guard is down, and it hits me just how much I want to see this side of her when alcohol isn’t involved.

Ignoring the squeeze in my chest, I smile down at her. “Why don’t we get you home?”

“Already? But I’m having so much fun.” She pouts, and my dick twitches painfully in the confined space of my jeans.

“I’m leaving and thought you could catch a ride with me.”

And get you away from anyone who thinks you’re fair game.

“Mm, I don’t know if I should.” Her words slur slightly as she loops her arms around my neck.

When I pull her flush to me, her eyes widen, and she giggles again. Damn, that sound is already growing on me. Drunk girls usually annoy me, but not her. There’s something endearing about a drunk Bear.

And having her in my arms? Mind. Fucking. Blown.

She grinds up against me, and there’s a heated look in her eyes that’s hard to ignore. We’re pressed so tight together that I can feel the erratic beating of her heart against my chest.

I groan, holding her even tighter against my straining dick. I don’t even try to hide my body’s reaction to her.

“Fuck Bear. Keep doing that, and I won’t care that we’re in a room full of people.”

Earlier, I told her I only wanted to talk. Now? I couldn’t care less. But I won’t make a move. Not when she’s drunk. Doing so would make me no better than the guy I chased away.

“Let me tell my friends I’m leaving.” Her voice comes out breathier than usual.

She quickly turns to the brunette she was talking to earlier, who leans in and says something I can’t make out over the music.

“Levi said he’d take me,” Bear says loud enough for me to hear as she peeks over her shoulder at me.

Her eyes me suspiciously as if trying to discern my true motives. She glances back at Bear, not looking entirely convinced.

“Are you sure? We can leave together.”

“No, have fun. I have pepper spray in my bag.” I'm not sure if she meant for me to hear that, but I chuckle under my breath anyway. To me, she turns and says, “I’m going to say goodbye to Elsie, and then we can go.”

I nod, assuming Elsie is another friend.

“Have you been drinking?” Her friend demands once Bear is out of earshot.

“No, I’m completely sober,” I tell her honestly. “Bear lives in my building, which is why I suggested she catch a ride with me,” I add, feeling the need to justify why we’re leaving together.

“I feel like the right thing to do is to have her leave with us.” Her friend’s clearly conflicted, and I can’t blame her for being cautious.

Knowing I should reassure her, I say, “Look, why don’t you give me your number? I’ll text you when we get home, and I'll have Bear do the same."

She stares me down, which is impressive, considering she’s at least a foot shorter than me.

“Fine,” she mutters. “But I swear if I don’t hear from you or her, I’m calling the cops.”

I start to laugh, thinking she can’t be serious, but the look she shoots me shuts me up fast. Okay, yeah, she’s serious.

“You don’t have to worry.” And I mean it because ever since I laid eyes on Bear, I’ve had this innate need to keep her safe. I can’t explain why or how. It’s just the way it is.

We exchange numbers, and I find out her name is Macy from her contact info. By the time I’m slipping my phone into my back pocket, Bear is back.

“I told him to text me when you get home. Make sure you do the same, please.” Macy tells her.

“I swear I will,” Bear promises.

It takes another round of Bear placating Macy, but soon, we’re out the door and on our way.

Outside, the temperature has dropped significantly, and Bear shivers beside me as we walk.

“Here, take this,” I say, pulling my hoodie over my head and offering it to her.

She must be cold because she lifts her arms without objection. I slip it on for her, and it drapes loosely over her slender frame. She looks good in my clothes. Damn good.

“Thanks, Whiskey Eyes.” Bear looks at me with such tenderness that I find it difficult to focus on anything but the pounding of my heart.

“You’re welcome,” I force the words out so I don’t do something stupid, like kiss her on the sidewalk. “Come on, the car isn’t much further.”

My hand moves to her lower back, where it stays for the rest of the walk.

When we reach my car, I open the passenger side door and help her in. Once she’s buckled, I walk over to my side. Cranking up the heat, I grab an unopened bottle of water from yesterday’s practice and hand it to her.

“Thank you.” She bites her lip shyly, and it takes everything in me not to let the groan building up in me pass my lips.

Everything she does is sexy as hell, and I doubt she even knows it. I grip the steering wheel tighter to get a handle on my emotions as I put the car into drive. It’s cold outside, but I could do with cracking a window. Maybe cold air works as well as a cold shower.

“I hope this won’t make things awkward for you,” Bear says once there’s some distance between us and the party.

She already sounds much more alert.

I frown, keeping my eyes on the road. “What do you mean?”

She clears her throat. “Won’t your girlfriend mind that you’re giving me a ride home?”

“Girlfriend?” This time I do look at her.

Bear’s gaze is focused on the empty plastic bottle in her hand.

“Yeah, the girl in your shower the day I came to your apartment.”

She looks up, crinkling her nose, and I can’t stop the huge smile that spreads across my face. She’s jealous, and I shouldn’t feel this damn happy about it.

“That was my friend Mack, who’s very much a guy,” I say, hiding the laughter in my voice with a fake cough.

“Oh, uh, forget I said anything,” she mumbles.

I stay silent, waiting for her to say more. But after a few seconds, Bear’s soft, steady breathing fills the car.

She stays asleep for the rest of the drive and only stirs when I pull into our parking lot. I’m out of my seat and opening her door before she’s fully registered we’re home. The minute her feet touch the ground, I scoop her into my arms.

“I can walk, you know. I already feel better,” she protests.

I look down at her. Those pretty blue eyes seem less glassy and more focused, but I still don’t put her down. I like having her pressed against me.

“You’re tired, and I don’t mind carrying you.”

Bear doesn’t reply, but she doesn't have to, not when her arms tighten around my neck. I keep hold of her until we reach her front door, where I’m forced to set her down so she can unlock it.

Once we’re inside, she squeals as I quickly lift her back into my arms and shut the door with my shoulder. I stride down the short hallway with purpose. It’s easy to figure out which door leads to her bedroom since our apartments have the same layout.

The sweet scent of strawberries and cream hits me the moment I step into her bedroom. Bear wriggles in my arms, but I tighten my hold on her, not wanting to let go just yet.

She lets out a tiny huff when she realizes I’m not budging. “Are you going to let me go?”

Never.

I reluctantly set her down on the edge of the bed and step back. Bear reaches for the hem of my hoodie, but I stop her with a hand on her arm.

“You can give it to me another time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I reply. “It looks good on you.”

Really fucking good.

She looks up at me with that same heated gaze she had on the dance floor. The air between us cracks with tension, and I know I should walk away. But I physically can’t get myself to do it.

Especially not when her tongue snakes out and runs across her full bottom lip. My nostrils flare as I try to focus on anything but pressing her mouth to mine.

Here in her room, where there’s no one around, it’s different. Nothing is stopping us from crossing this line. One we both clearly want to.

This pull between us has been building since our conversation hours ago. Hell, since the first moment we met. And now it’s shaking the ground, threatening to explode.

“You shouldn’t do that.” The words are a warning as much as a plea.

“Do what?” She whispers.

Her big blue eyes linger on mine, and it’s damn near my undoing.

“Look at me like you want to fuck me.” I rasp.

“What if I do?” Desire thickens her tone, making my blood thrum with heat.

Those words shatter the restraint I’ve been clinging to all evening. I gently grip her jaw, my aching dick begs to be released and give her what we both want, but I force myself not to take this any further.

Bear may not be as drunk as she was earlier, but there is no way all the alcohol is out of her system, and I don’t want her waking up regretting this in the morning or, worse, thinking I took advantage of her in a vulnerable state.

That doesn’t mean I can’t keep this foreplay going for a little longer, even if it’s the slow, torturous type.

My thumb traces the seam of her plump lips. She leans into my touch, a whimper escaping her. I take advantage of the slight parting of her lips and slide my thumb in slowly, and when she sucks, we both groan.

Her tongue swirls around, and the hand resting by my side curls into a fist. My nails dig into the fleshy part of my palm to stop myself from exploding in my pants.

“Are you wet for me?” The words are strained as I push them out.

Her long lashes flutter closed, and she nods.

“Look at me,” I demand, and when her eyes snap back to mine, I say more gently. “Use your words.”

She pulls back slightly and whispers shyly, “Yes.”

“Good.” I let go of her jaw and step back. “Remember who made your pussy ache with need when I walk out of here.”

“Wh-what you’re leaving?”

Her face falls, wide eyes stare up at me, and the sight is like a kick to the gut. But I didn’t bring her home for sex. I wanted to make sure she was safe; that’s it. Even if walking away from her with a raging hard-on is one of the most painful things I’ve had to do.

“I thought…” Her words trail off, and I know she must be feeling confused. But this isn’t about me not wanting to take this further.

God, do I want to.

Fantasizing about it is one thing but having it within my reach is something else entirely.

Bending down, I bring my mouth close to her ear, careful not to touch her. If I do, I might not have the willpower to walk away.

“When I fuck you,” Bear’s eyes widen as I let the words linger between us. “I want you to remember everything . Every moan, every quiver of your thighs, but most importantly, how it’s my name falling from your lips when you come.”

Her sharp intake of breath echoes in the quiet room.

As I head for the door, I say over my shoulder. “Get some rest. I’ll text Macy, but you should, too. She’s probably worried.”